Weather across the nation: 12/3/12

The storm that slammed into California on Sunday continued into the Great Basin and Rockies Monday, renewing rain and high elevation snow for the area.

The strongest precipitation was noted from northern Utah through eastern Montana in the morning before the main cold front and storm moved into the Plains into the afternoon. This storm was relatively warm for this time of year, thus most of the lower level precipitation that fell in the Plains fell as rain.

This storm lost a lot of its moisture in the afternoon as it entered the Plains and Upper Midwest, thus its associated precipitation diminished into the afternoon as well.

Meanwhile, a high pressure system in the eastern third of the country allowed dry and warm conditions to continue for the region. Afternoon temperatures in the 70s and some 80s were experienced from Texas through the Southeast and northward through the Mississippi Valley. This is well above normal for this time of year. A cold front is expected to move through the eastern third of the country Tuesday, bringing an end to this winter heat wave.

The Northeast rose into the 40s, 50s, and 60s, while the Southeast saw temperatures in the 70s and 80s. The Northern Plains rose into the 30s, 40s, and 50s, while the Northwest saw temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

ON THIS DATE....... The city of Yuma, Ariz., normally receives about 3.40 inches of rain throughout the year. On this date in 1926, the town received 1.10 inches of rain. A week later, the town had received a total of 4.43 inches for the month, making it the wettest December on record.